Spencer County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Healthy · 26.5 | 19,910 people · 89th most distressed in Indiana
American Default Research

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Spencer County, IN ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 26.5 — 2912th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Indiana, it ranks 89th of 92 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Spencer County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 79.9 — worse than roughly 80% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 79.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 80
Economic Vitality 39.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 38
Rent-to-Income Ratio 5
Business Formation Rate 78
House Price Change (YoY) 82
Structural Poverty 22.0
Unemployment Rate 6
Poverty Rate 11
Income vs. State Median 21
Child Poverty Rate 11
Disability Rate 34
Transfer Income Dependency 38
Housing Cost Burden 21.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 30
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 9
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 46
Homeownership Rate 14
Consumer Credit Distress 19.5
Debt in Collections 17
Medical Debt 41
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 16
Uninsured Rate 6
Subprime Credit Population 28

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Spencer County
Spencer County, IN 26.5 Healthy —
Daviess County, KY 50.4 Elevated +23.8
Perry County, IN 43.4 Normal +16.8
Hancock County, KY 38.3 Normal +11.7
Warrick County, IN 28.2 Healthy +1.7
Dubois County, IN 24.8 Healthy -1.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Spencer County
Elbert County, CO 26.4 Healthy -0.1
Allamakee County, IA 26.7 Healthy +0.1
Lincoln County, WA 26.4 Healthy -0.1
Jackson County, IA 26.7 Healthy +0.2
Madison County, VA 26.4 Healthy -0.2

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Spencer County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Spencer County

Find an Attorney

Indiana State Bar Association — Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Indiana State Bar Association — Lawyer Referral Service 317-639-5465

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Spencer County residents at no cost.

Indiana Legal Services (ILS) 317-631-9410 (Indianapolis); 1-888-529-4917 (statewide hotline)
Legal Aid Society of Tippecanoe County 765-742-1050
Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic 317-429-4131

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Spencer County, Indiana?

    Spencer County has a County Distress Index score of 26.5 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,912th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 89th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Spencer County?

    The primary driver of distress in Spencer County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 79.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Spencer County compare to neighboring counties?

    Spencer County (26.5) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Daviess County, KY (50.4); Perry County, IN (43.4); Hancock County, KY (38.3).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Healthy zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Spencer County's score of 26.5 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

  • What data sources power Spencer County's CDI score?

    Spencer County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Spencer County?

    Spencer County, Indiana has a population of approximately 19,910 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.